Cardinal Hayes vs Kellenberg

HIGHLIGHTS

The Kellenberg defensive players walked off the field in stunned disbelief. It was as if someone had grabbed a remote control, hit the mute button and aimed it right at the Firebirds players and their sideline. After three overtimes -- and three hours of real time -- Kellenberg lost a heartbreaking 55-49 triple-overtime decision against visiting Cardinal Hayes in a CHSFL football game on Friday night. Kellenberg threw an interception to open the third overtime period. Then, Cardinals Hayes senior quarterback Henry Belin -- who bedeviled the Firebirds throughout the night -- threw an eight-yard touchdown pass to Victor DeFelice that ended the marathon session at Mitchel Athletic Complex. "Our kids battled," Kellenberg coach Kevin Hanifan said, "but they didn't finish." They also had trouble with the Cardinals' Belin. The electric 6-3, 210-pounder accounted for six of Cardinal Hayes' eight touchdowns and 362 of the Cardinals' 457 yards of total offense. Belin was 20 of 30 passing for 240 yards and three TDs, including a 14-yard scoring pass on a fourth-and-goal play from the Kellenberg 14 in the first overtime period that continued the game. He added 122 yards rushing on nine carries and three more scores. Cardinal Hayes (3-5, 3-3) never led until the game's final play. Hanifan, in his 26th and final season as Kellenberg head coach, recalled another wild contest in his career. "This is my second triple-overtime game," Hanifan said. "[It was] 1999 we beat Xavier at St. John's University, 43-40." Kellenberg (3-4, 3-3 CHSFL) wasn't as fortunate on this night and watched 14-point leads vanish on three different occasions. Three of the Firebirds' four losses this season are by a combined 13 points. "We just have to finish off plays," said senior running back Brendan Leahy, who had 77 yards rushing on 16 carries and two TDs, and added two receptions, including an 11-yard scoring catch. "They were able to finish unlike us." Kellenberg led 35-21 after quarterback Ethan Greenwood -- who didn't play until the final series of the first half -- found Jaden Lyons on a 18-yard TD pass with 4:10 left in the third quarter. Hayes scored 128 seconds later, and again on a 64-yard TD run by Belin with 8:29 remaining in regulation to force overtime. Greenwood, who missed time earlier in the season, ended the night 8-for-16 for 82 yards passing with two scores and an interception -- the only turnover by either team. He added 48 yards rushing on 16 carries. Devin Page started the game for the Firebirds and was fantastic. The 6-5 junior quarterback was 13-for-17 passing for 184 yards with two scores, and added 43 yards rushing on five carries with a TD. "We just fought so hard," Leahy said. "It was a long game -- three overtimes -- back and forth. You don't want to be the loser of this one. It's a tough pill to swallow."